The Narrow Road

October 2, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

As we move along the journey of Faith and grow in our relationship with Jesus we will begin to see differences in what people are pursuing (ourselves included) and what we read and learn about in the Bible. When we read things like…“All people will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” – Matthew 10:22 or “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10 And there are many other verses in the Bible that make us squirm in our seats…as people living in this world, when we read these things it makes some of us want to ask “really? persecuted? hated? and then forgiveness, kindness and compassion?”

It is at that moment that we should stop and think for minute…close our eyes and see the Cross, see Jesus Christ hanging there…He was beaten, hated, persecuted and crucified and He went through all that and offered a prayer of forgiveness just before He died…He did all of this for me and for you. A life living in Faith is not a promise of easy street and all happiness all the time…in fact it is the life you will often find that needs to take the road less traveled and know in confidence that there is One who showed us how to travel that road. May we all find refuge and comfort with Christ. Amen

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“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Faith Drives Out Fear

October 1, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Fear is a bully, it takes away from who we truly are, it restricts us, it wants to control us and it will tell us lie after lie to get its way. Faith in God is one of the greatest weapons against fear. Belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came down from heaven, was crucified, died and has risen is the foundation to stand on to overcome fear. All of us are fighting something that is trying to use fear against us…maybe other people know about your battle…maybe they don’t…God knows and He is willing to provide you the courage, the strength and the wisdom to defeat fear. Our trust and in Faith in the Lord will carry us through any thing the world throws at us. Bring your worries and your fears to the Cross and let Jesus lead the way. May we all have new courage and strength against our fears because of our Faith.

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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

(This photo was taken in August of 2016 in Glacier National Park in Montana)

Gratitude

September 30, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

A key element in shaping our perspective is gratitude. Being thankful, looking around at your life and recognizing the ways God has blessed you. We must be careful not to judge a blessing based on the world’s view of us or our life. God has promised to give us what we need, not fulfill all our wants and not to give us everything that will make us feel better compared to someone else. We are each unique, created out of love and blessed to be a blessing. We have already received the greatest gift we could ever receive from Jesus Christ, it is up to us to turn towards Him and give Him thanks. May the peace and joy of the Lord be with you.

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in you hearts to God.”

Colossians 3:15-16

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Amazing Grace

September 29, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

This is the message God has put on my heart this morning. Below are the words, I encourage you to go find your favorite recording of it and listen to it. May God’s love, joy and peace be with you.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Written by John Newton

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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God…”

Ephesians 2:8

(This photo was taken in July of 2016 while traveling through North Dakota)

Give Me Jesus

September 28, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

All I can do is pray…pray for the world to seek a moral compass; pray that all people strive to be humble; pray that all people stop looking only for their self-interest; pray that all people repent for the wrongs they have done and pray that all people remember the mercy and grace we have been given by Jesus Christ, even though we do not deserve it. I look around at the things going on in the world and all I can think is…just give me Jesus. May the faith and prayers of Christians all over the world be greater than evil and darkness. Amen

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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Psalm 143:8

(This photo was taken in April of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Persistence

September 27, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

When we read about prayer in the Bible there are words and phrases such as “without ceasing” or “continually” and when we read about the life of Jesus we find He spent hours and sometimes even the whole night in prayer to God His Father. In today’s society we are so quick to move from one item to the next it seems there is little attention paid to dedication and commitment. The ability to stick to it, not giving up and believing the next attempt will be the one that is successful…these are the attributes of true success in life. This approach to anything takes patience, persistence and faith. We learn the most from trying and failing and we succeed by taking what we learn and applying it to the future. The same is true in our prayer life…if you have been praying about something and you haven’t seen results yet, don’t give up, keep praying. God hears you and He will work things out in His time, His way, not based on our thoughts or our timetable…and thankfully His way is always better than ours. Be persistent in prayer and give thanks to God for all your blessings.

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“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(This photo was taken in September of 2016 on a lake in central Minnesota)

Courage

September 26, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

To persevere…daring…to do something that makes us uncomfortable…strength in the struggle. There are many things that can make us uneasy, cautious and fearful in our world. We all need a source of encouragement, a source and a foundation from which we can draw strength…there is only one who has lived that can provide us the example of courage in the most devastating circumstances…Jesus Christ. Not only did He show what true devotion and fortitude looks like He did all for someone else, He did it for you. Take your fears and your worries to the Lord and let your Faith be stronger than your fear. May we be surrounded in the comfort and courage of God’s love.

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“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

Rest In Him

September 25, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Take your burdens and your worries to the Lord. Take rest in His grace and forgiveness. Believe in the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and trust in Him. All that is good comes from God. May you find peace and joy in the Lord.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

(This photo was taken in March in 2018 in southern New Mexico)

Wait For The Lord

September 24, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Our lives are usual so busy moving from one thing to the next, that planning and preparing become dominant activities…the thing is if we are always planning and preparing for what’s next when are we living in the present moment? A difficult part of surrender for all of us is not always trying to control what’s next. A life of faith doesn’t mean we always go and do what we want…Jesus said in Luke 9:23 “…If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” We all have a cross to bear in life, it is different for everyone…and bearing a cross is doing what we should be doing, doing what needs to be done. It means being obedient to God and we do these things because of love. Be in prayer and talk with the Lord about what He needs you to do then wait and listen. May you be surrounded by the love of God each day.

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“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord,”

Lamentations 3:25-26

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota)

Music Fills My Soul

September 23, 2018 / mcalcagno / Leave a comment

Ever since my Dad passed away about 3 weeks ago, I have sensed there has been this constant bit of darkness hovering around me. No matter where I went or what I did, nothing could change the fact that life is different now everyday going forward. The thing is…different doesn’t have to be bad, do I miss my Dad, absolutely…but more importantly I am thankful for every day of my life that I had with him and I will see him again someday. The darkness was trying to tell me something different and send me into a downward spiral. Last night, my wife and I attended a Christian concert with tickets given to us as a gift back in July. The music and worship that these talented people provided last night was so uplifting, so encouraging and so refreshing for my soul. There is something very unique about music and christian music is a gift that soothes my soul unlike anything else. I offer my things to Danny Gokey, Tauren Wells and Riley Clemmons for wonderful evening of restoring music and praise. May you feel the joy of the Lord in your life on this day of worship.

Here is one from Danny Gokey: Give Me Jesus

Here is one from Tauren Wells: When We Pray

Here is one from Riley Clemmons: Broken Prayers

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